THE swift moving on of a group of travellers at a Basingstoke park has been hailed as a victory for a recently-won High Court injunction.

The caravans and vehicles in Eastrop Park were reported to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on Wednesday, 22 August and moved on the next morning by police and the borough council. 

The council's leader, Cllr Clive Sanders, said the quick action showed that a new interim injunction, which prohibits encampments in a large area of the borough, is working effectively.

He added: "This action was taken in response to the concerns of residents and businesses concerning the impacts that such encampments cause and protects the borough’s green open spaces

and business areas. 

“The injunction is making a real difference by speeding up the time it takes to remove unauthorised encampments. Those who breach the injunction can be arrested and could face a custodial

sentence and/or be fined.”

Another encampment was moved on from Crabtree Plantation on Friday, August 24 following action under the interim injunction.

In July, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council gained an interim injunction effectively banning travellers from setting up unauthorised encampments or developments on sites they do not own in a large portion of the borough.

Court papers cite more than 100 named defendants but anyone who breaks the injunction, which begins immediately, faces the threat of arrest if they do not leave a site immediately when asked to.

In its submission, the council cited both the damaging effect communities face from some illegal encampments - including anti-social behaviour and the dumping of waste - and the financial costs.

From April 2016 to June 2018, the borough council had spent £105,000 on clearing up after illegal encampments, £43,500 'defending land' from being accessed for illegal use and £4,600 in legal costs.

Elsewhere, for the injunction, the councils spoke to 10 owners of 53 pieces of private land in the borough affected by illegal sites which together cited costs of £55,877 while Hampshire County Council had costs of in excess of £31,000.

These reasons for the application were enhanced by the sheer number of illegal encampments in the borough. Hampshire County Council estimated 42 per cent of all unauthorised encampments in 2017 were in Basingstoke and Deane.

There have been 158 encampments set up from April 2016 to June 14 this year in the borough.

Council officers and members are hopeful the arrest threat from the injunction will reduce the amount of time and costs it takes to move people on from illegal encampments - down from up to potentially 10 working days to as low as one hour once asked to move on.

The councils and the defendants identified in the court documents are due back in front of the High Court within six months as a permanent injunction will be applied for.

The interim injunction covers the urbanised Basingstoke town area of the borough plus outlying areas of Bramley and Silchester and a small parcel of land at Stratfield Turgis..